Hodes, Dodd get NARAL nod

Not a shocker, but Representative Paul Hodes did pick up the support -- and some cash -- from the National Abortion Rights Action League today for his 2010 US Senate race in New Hampshire.

NARAL Pro-Choice America, the group's political action committee, said it has given the maximum $10,000 to Hodes and will mobilize its 10,000 member-activists in the Granite State.

The endorsement seemed certain after Representative Carol Shea-Porter announced she would not run. Recent polls show Hodes trailing Republican Kelly Ayotte, the state attorney general, for the seat, being vacated by Republican Judd Gregg.

“Rep. Hodes has a distinguished record of protecting and defending a woman’s right to choose,” Nancy Keenan, the PAC's president, said in a statement. “Most recently, Rep. Hodes played an important role in working to eliminate funding for dangerous and deceptive ‘abstinence-only’ programs. He’s worked hard to answer the public’s call to move away from these failed Bush-backed policies that have put our teens at risk. We are confident that, as a senator, Rep. Hodes will continue to stand up for women’s freedom and privacy and keep up New Hampshire’s tradition of strong pro-choice advocates, such as Gov. John Lynch, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter. Rep. Hodes’ candidacy marks a great opportunity to add to the list of pro-choice senators.”

Hodes promised to protect Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement from NARAL Pro-Choice America,” Hodes said in a statement. “I have worked for and believe in the fundamental right of women to make medical decisions without the fear of government intervention. I will be a Senator who stands up to those that would work to criminalize women and their doctors and I will always fight to protect the rights that Roe v. Wade guarantees to every woman.”

UPDATE: This afternoon, the NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC also formally endorsed Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, who faces a tough re-election fight with both Democrats in a primary, and should he win, Republicans in the general election.

The PAC also gave Dodd the maximum $10,000 and said it has 14,000 supporters in Connecticut.

“Sen. Dodd has a long and distinguished record of protecting and defending a woman’s right to choose,” Keenan said. “Just recently, under Sen. Dodd’s leadership, a key committee defeated repeated attempts by anti-choice senators to politicize health-care reform legislation with divisive anti-choice amendments and adopted important new provisions that will improve women's access to family-planning care. Sen. Dodd will continue to stand up for women’s freedom and privacy and be an outstanding advocate for Connecticut’s commonsense pro-choice values.”